[Jo Loves Veg]

I'm going to make a raised bed on my allotment. Any tips please?  Thanks!

[sunshineband]

Three tips that have helped me manage mine really easily

1. Make sure that you can reach to the middle without standing on the soil

2. Make them all the same dimensions as then all 'equipment' fits all beds

3. Having  a group of four makes crop rotation a cinch

and don't worry about completely filling them with soil the first year, as your own compost etc will gradually increase the soil level over the first few years


Hope that helps

[Jo Loves Veg]

lovely, thank you!

I am making more efficient use of space and due to luck more than anything, (donated timber) I'll be making a bed that is the same size as 2 others. I'm very excited as my allotment is really beginning to take shape! Thanks.

[RookieJim]

I've done raised beds on my plot as my Mrs suffers from a bad back.

They're a wee bit expensive to fill but you can use your own soil from the plot. I made mine from scaffolding boards, 8' x 4', raised the soil underneath (in the winter), broke the clumps down with a Mantis a few weeks ago, added compost and then topsoil, which I had to buy from a well know Garden Centre. Here's a pic:



Jim

[sunshineband]

That looks well organised, Rookiejim 

My beds are 3.6m by 1.2 m , based on the unit of length of 2.4m that the original (recycled) timber was 

[surbie100]

One tip I was given is to put the soil from digging paths into the bed - if you are either having woodchip paths or sinking the paths slightly. It helps even things out a bit if you are on a slope, as I am, or of you want to increase the amount of soil in the bed at the outset.

[bluealf]

Could you not have got the raised beds closer together Jim and squeezed another couple in ?

I bet when you have them all full you will think that anyways 

[RookieJim]

Could you not have got the raised beds closer together Jim and squeezed another couple in ?

I bet when you have them all full you will think that anyways 

Yep, I'm reminded of that by the mrs every time she goes there 

Jim

[Beetroot queen]

Could you not have got the raised beds closer together Jim and squeezed another couple in ?

I bet when you have them all full you will think that anyways 

Yep, I'm reminded of that by the mrs every time she goes there 

Jim

Trust a woman to point out the issues, I did that yesterday with hubby's compost bin, I wasn't complaining just pointing out things from a different view point. 

[savbo]

John's book has the best technique for making raised beds...so obvious really but you put the stakes OUTSIDE rather than inside, and then they don't burst open when you are digging them over. Pity I ahd been making raised beds for years before I discovered it

sav

[bigben]

Have you thought about just using the planks as "paths" (perhaps doubled width) to divide up the area you have available. At the end of the season lift them and you have a blank canvas again plus it maximises your growing area and makes it easier to dig.

If you are set on raised beds - perhaps for better drainage I would agree with others who suggest putting them closer together.

[surbie100]

you put the stakes OUTSIDE rather than inside, and then they don't burst open when you are digging them over.

My stakes are on the inside, screwed to the boards and I've never had problems with the borders bursting open. I dig to 1.5 spits deep.

[bluealf]

Sorry Jim 

[surbie100]

Sorry Jim 

 look what you started!

[Trillium]

Have you thought about just using the planks as "paths"

This works for some folk but not all, mostly those who have serious slug problems and the planks provide excellent hidey holes.

One trick I now use with raised beds is to place them closer together lengthwise, then leave a good space between the short ends, like an alley so I can get the barrows and tractor along there with manure, etc and I can simply fling it only 4 ft from either end of my 8 ft (by 4ft wide) beds. Work is still easy and I squeeze in more beds.